003.
𝗄𝗂𝗇𝗀'𝗌 𝗅𝖺𝗇𝖽𝗂𝗇𝗀

Six years had gone by since the incident at Driftmark, yet Lucenys could still remember Aemond's bloody scream. It haunts her in her dreams and she is pathetically scared of him. All she sees is his one eye, the other covered in a patch while he screamed for her to give her his eye. When she had expressed her fear to her mother and Daemon, they had simply told her not to worry. Her mother had told her that Aemond had grown up and had gotten over what happened at Driftmark and Daemon told her would protect Lucenys if he ever dared touch her. It did not ease her worries though.

She could still see him in her dreams.

"Stop it Aegon," she tuts disapprovingly at little Aegon. He shakes his silver head at her and Lucenys gives him a playful glare.

"I need that parchment Aegon,"

Aegon giggled at her pathetic attempt on getting it back before running away when she tried to rush forward. Lucenys laughed as she managed to catch up to Aegon and threw her arms over his small body. She flung him up in the air and attacked him with kisses.

"Ew! Stop it, Luce! S-Stop!" Aegon laughed.

"You two seem to have a fun time compared to your brothers,"

She turned around and faced Daemon. She smiled at him gently and made Aegon sit comfortably in her arms. She went over to her step father who was leaning on the door with his usual smirk.

"How long have you been standing there with no intention of saving me from this little monster?" She laughed as she kissed Daemon's cheek in greeting.

She looked at Aegon. "This one needs a huge punishment for his honor less acts towards a princess."

Daemon laughed and took Aegon from her hands. "Yes, I'm sure we'll find a good punishment for you Aegon." Lucenys giggled as Aegon shrieked.

Daemon looked at her and Luce could see behind his eyes. "Pack the things you'll need," he said. "We leave for King's Landing on the morrow."

She widened her eyes, fear suddenly pouring through her. "Kings landing? Why? We haven't been there in six years?"

"Vaemond Velaryon is challenging Joffrey's claim to Driftmark," Daemon explained seriously. "Vaemond is a fool. But even he knows that it is not Viserys that holds the throne these days, it is the Hightowers."

Lucenys stared fiercely at the ground. " I don't want to go to king's landing Daemon." She said gently. She was a coward. She did not want to look at the face she had maimed all those years prior.

"Hey, look at me," Daemon said gently, bringing his free hand to her chin, and tilting her head up. "Nothing will happen to you there. I will cut out Aemond's other eye if he as so much looks at you the wrong way. Do you understand?"

Lucenys smiled lovingly at him. "Yes, I do. Thank you Daemon. You truly are like a father to me, I couldn't have asked for a better one."

Daemon smiled and kissed her forehead. "Now come, we must meet with your mother."

KING'S LANDING HAD CHANGED SINCE THE LAST TIME SHE HAD BEEN HERE. When it was filled with Targaryen sigils, now it was covered in the symbols of the Faith, the seven pointed star one of them. Luce stared in shock as she walked down the stairs to the combat area outside the keep behind Jace.

"Come on Luce," Jace said excitedly.

Luce looked around her skeptically. "It's smaller than I remember."

Jace frowned at her. "It's just the same." He shook his head and brought her to the weapons that lay on a table. Jace held one up and held it like a green boy. Luce couldn't help but chuckle at his trying to make her smile.

Jace dropped the weapon suddenly and grabbed her arm before dragging her over toward a crowd that had gathered to watch a fight. Luce and Jace managed to squeeze into the crowd, for Luce to catch the gaze of something silver. To her astonishment it was Aemond. Her uncle Aemond, the very person she had maimed all those years ago.

Her breath caught her throat at the sight of Aemond. Gone was the small angry boy and instead stood a tall, handsome Targaryen prince, looking ready for battle at any moment.

"Well done, My Prince. You'll be winning tourneys in no time."

"I don't give a shit about tourneys," Aemond said back emotionless. He caught her and Jace' gaze. Luce jumped and clung to Jace's arm. "Nephew, niece, have you come to train?"

Luce could hardly breathe. Aemond's gaze was plastered on her and all she could do was look to the ground. She could not bear it. She couldn't look at the infamous patch covering his eye. She had yet to take a good look at it, she refused to.

She was a coward, but she didn't want to be reminded of what a monster she was for doing such a horrible act.

Luce could feel Jace begging if to walk forward, however, the gates opened, quickly drawing the attention away from them and everyone present. She watched scared as she saw Ser Vaemond walk proudly past them. She saw him throw her and Jace a nasty look before continuing.

Luce closed her eyes and let out a sigh. Mayhaps it was for the best that Joffrey was still innocent of the world around him. At least he wouldn't understand what was fully happening.

EVERYONE WAS GATHERED IN THE THRONE ROOM, QUIETLY WAITING FOR THE PETITION TO START. Luce held Joffrey's hand tightly in hers, smiling slightly as she felt him squeeze back. Lord Otto was sitting on the Iron Throne.

"Though it is the great hope of this court that Lord Corlys Velaryon survive his wounds, we gather here with the grim task of dealing with the succession of Driftmark. As Hand, I speak with the King's voice on this and all other matters. The crown will now hear the petitions. Ser Vaemond of House Velaryon."

Ser Vaemond stepped forward, beginning to speak. "My Queen. My Lord Hand. The history of our noble houses extends beyond the Seven Kingdoms to the days of Old Valyria. For as long as House Targaryen has ruled the skies, House Velaryon has ruled the seas. When the Doom fell on Valyria, our houses became the last of their kind. Our forebearers came to this new land, knowing that were they to fail, it would mean the end to their bloodlines and their name. I have spent my entire life on Driftmark defending my brother's seat. I am Lord Corlys's closest kin, his own blood. The true, unimpeachable blood of House Velaryon runs through my veins."

Her mother sneered at Ser Vaemond. "As it does in my sons and daughter, the offsprings of Laenor Velaryon. If you cared so much about your house's blood, Ser Vaemond, you would not be so bold as to supplant its rightful heir. No, you only speak for yourself and for your own ambition."

The Queen stopped her, looking rather glum. "You will have a chance to make your own petition, Princess Rhaenyra. Do Ser Vaemond the courtesy of allowing his to be heard."

Luce knew there was no way of Joffrey ever keeping his title and heirloom when the Hightowers kept the throne. All of them were against her mother and her family. It was no use.

Luce's heart suddenly dropped when she felt a glare burning her head. She didn't look toward him, afraid of what she might do if she did. Aemond wanted her to look at him, to make her see what she had done to him. But she could not.

They continued arguing before her mother was cut off by the doors suddenly opening with two of the kings guard.

"King Viserys of House Targaryen, the First of His Name, King of the Andals, and the Rhoynar, and the First Men, Lord of the Seven Kingdoms, and Protector of the Realm."

Luce sighed in relief as she watched the king walk painfully towards the Iron Throne. She noticed how frail her grandsire had gotten. Luce felt sadness as she could only remember how kind and lovely her grandsire was, putting her on his knee and showing her his model of king's landing. His laughter and comforting smile. Now, he looked like he could drop dead at any passing moment.

The throne room quieted down when the king sat down.

"I must admit my confusion...I do not understand why petitions are being heard over a settled succession. The only one present who might offer keener insight into Lord Corlys's wishes is the Princess Rhaenys."

The petition went as it began. Vaemond began defending himself against the king and Luce had to keep in her shudder as she felt unwanted attention from someone while holding Joffrey as her brother seemed to be scared to death.

"That is no true Velaryon, and certainly no nephew of mine!"

Luce could feel Joffrey shake and she felt the sudden urge to shout at Vaemond. How dare he scream at her kind-hearted brother like that? He was kind and good and does not deserve to be treated like this.

Her mother, having had enough retired back, "You have said enough."

The king interrupted them as angrily as one could with such fragility. "Joffrey is my true-born grandson. And you are no more than the second son of Driftmark."

"You... may run your house as you see fit but you will not decide the future of mine. My house survived the Doom and a thousand tribulations besides. And gods be damned I will not see it ended on the account of this.."

"Say it," Daemon threatened, eyes begging for a fight.

Vaemond looked absolutely livid. "Her children are bastards!" Luce felt her body shake, pulling her arm at Jace in comfort. She stared in horror when Vaemond looked towards her mother, "And she is a whore."

Gasps were heard throughout the throne room. She pulled Joffrey around herself, and she wrapped her arms around him.

The King stood, ready to remove Vaemonds rouge off before Daemon beat him to it. Luce gasped and covered her hands over Joffrey's eyes as Vaemonds head fell to the ground.

"He can keep his tongue," Daemon said dryly.

"Disarm him!" The hand raged. Luce did not look towards them and kept her gaze on the floor, careful not to catch the severed head of Vaemond Velaryon.

"No need."

Luce then made the mistake in looking towards the greens. She caught the gaze of Aemond, and she had to keep herself from shaking uncontrollably. Aemond stared at her with the one eye he had left, the other covered in the eyepatch she so badly wanted to avoid looking at.

She stiffened at the look in his eye as he glared at her. Anger. Vengeance.